Ep 20 - QLD's X-Factor Callum Vidler: Need for Speed, 140kph plus & Hunting Poles
Release Date: 11/17/2025
Ep 26 - Afghanistan Batting Coach Toby Radford Reveals the Secret Blueprint World Class Batsmen Use
The Cerebral Cricketer
Afghanistan’s newly appointed batting coach Toby Radford joins The Cerebral Cricketer fresh off a win in Dubai, straight after a fast turnaround from the Bangladesh Premier League. In this episode, Toby breaks down what he looks for in elite batting across formats, from T20 game awareness and middle overs planning, to the technical “non negotiables” he believes most world class players share. We go deep on alignment, balance, triggers, playing late, soft hands, and the small details that can be the difference between being slightly out of form and back in rhythm. We also get practical on...
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Ep 25 - How Tasmania’s Top Order Batter Tim Ward Defied The Odds & Cracked Into Domestic Cricket
The Cerebral Cricketer
Tasmania and Hobart Hurricanes top order batsman Tim Ward joins the show to share how he made it into domestic cricket without the “usual” pathway, including missing age group carnivals and using that setback as fuel. We unpack the NSW to Tasmania move, the rookie contract call, how to adapt your game to T20 cricket and what it took to earn his place in the setup. Plus, Tim breaks down his notebook method for building innings (first 30 balls, then layers), and a BBL story where “be brave” turned into laps, ramps, and momentum. This episode explores unseen side of making it, what it...
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Ep 24 - How Victoria's Blake Macdonald “Lets Go of the Outcome” | Process, Pressure & Premeditating
The Cerebral Cricketer
Victoria and Melbourne Stars batter Blake Macdonald joins The Cerebral Cricketer Podcast for a deep dive into the mental side of cricket, the kind of mindset that actually holds up when the crowd is loud and the stakes feel heavy. Blake breaks down his core idea, “let go of the outcome”, why chasing runs can tighten you up, and how focusing on simple cues helps him play freer, clearer cricket. We also get into premeditated batting, especially his sweep options, how he reads spin, and why planning your scoring can be a weapon, not a weakness. In this episode, we cover: - The “let go of...
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Ep 23 - From U19 World Cup Final to IPL with Punjab Kings: Param Uppal's Secret Playbook For Success
The Cerebral Cricketer
From the U19 World Cup Final in Aussie colours to training with Punjab Kings in the IPL, Param Uppal opens up his secret playbook for success as a modern cricketer. In this episode of The Cerebral Cricketer, Param talks about growing up in western Sydney after moving from India, the realities of the Australian pathway system, playing a World Cup Final against India, and then walking into an IPL environment full of world class players. He also breaks down the coaching that shaped him, from Neil D Costa and Gordon Lowe to Anthony Clark, Chris Rogers, Phil Jaques, Damien Wright, Anil Kumble and...
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Ep 22 - West Indies' Amir Jangoo on Fear of Failure, Faith, Flow State & His Century on ODI Debut
The Cerebral Cricketer
Rising West Indies batter Amir Jangoo joins The Cerebral Cricketer Podcast to unpack the mental side of that debut hundred against Bangladesh, the doubts that came before it, and the faith that keeps him grounded when the game humbles him. We go deep on how Amir thinks about failure, why he believes you must accept that you will fail as a professional, and how that frees him up to trust his preparation and play with clarity. He breaks down the chase ball by ball, talks through the moment he was on 94 and decided he was going to hit a six for his century, and explains what it is like to be in...
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Ep 21 - NSW Next Gen: William Salzmann on Batting Philosophy, Training the Mind & Rewiring Self Talk
The Cerebral Cricketer
NSW future star William Salzmann joins The Cerebral Cricketer to unpack the mind behind his batting. From coming through the NSW pathway and U19 World Cup, to opening the batting for the Blues and scoring big runs, Salzmann takes us inside his batting philosophy, how he builds his game around strong defence, and what his mental routines actually look like in the middle. We dig into how he rewired his self talk, deals with negative thoughts after a mistake, and gets back into flow state ball by ball. He shares how he plans an innings, his between ball routines, the cues he uses at the crease,...
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Ep 20 - QLD's X-Factor Callum Vidler: Need for Speed, 140kph plus & Hunting Poles
The Cerebral Cricketer
Queensland Bulls quick Callum Vidler joins The Cerebral Cricketer to unpack his need for speed, what it feels like to bowl 140kph plus, and why he is always hunting poles rather than bowling safe. From U19 World Cup glory with Australia to a breakout Sheffield Shield final for Queensland, Callum opens up about the mindset behind fast bowling, learning to compete hard without losing control, and how he uses pace as his point of difference. In this episode we cover - Growing up in Brisbane and discovering he could bowl genuinely fast - School and club cricket, and the moment he realised cricket...
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Ep 19 - "Batting is a Chess Match": Premier Cricket Run Machine Aryan Jain on Strategy, Psychology & Mindset
The Cerebral Cricketer
Top Order Premier Cricket Sensation Aryan Jain has a unique journey that runs from London School of Economics to state cricket and a breakout season in Premier cricket. In this episode he explains the simple process that lets him score runs even when he feels out of touch, how he separates technical, mental, and tactical work, and the exact routine he uses between balls. We cover his first class debut for Queensland, lessons from English conditions, facing high pace as a teen, handling selection pressure, and the reflection checklist he uses after dismissals. He also walks through the...
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Ep 18 - How I Hit a T20 Hundred: Dutch Opener Michael Levitt on Power Game Secrets & Mental Clarity
The Cerebral Cricketer
Netherland's Opener Michael Levitt opens up on the simple blueprint behind a T20 hundred, powerplay intent, and mental clarity. We cover how he backs himself under pressure, reads bowlers, sets clear plans, and turns tempo into boundaries. He breaks down the Namibia 135, the communication with partners, and the drills that sharpen bat speed and contact quality. You will hear practical routines you can copy in your next innings, from pre ball cues to breathing and visualization. What we cover • Power game basics, intent in the first six, boundary percentage, strike rotation • Process...
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Ep 17 - The Triple Century Blueprint: Antum Naqvi on Batting IQ, Flowstate & the Subconscious
The Cerebral Cricketer
Antum Naqvi joins The Cerebral Cricketer to unpack his historic 300 not out in Zimbabwe domestic cricket, the decision making that sustained the innings, and the repeatable routines behind big scores. We cover debut 140*, captaincy with Mid West Rhinos, white ball gears, and how a commercial pilot license shaped his preparation and discipline. What you will learn: • Phase plan for a triple century, early options, middle consolidation, late acceleration • Risk management near milestones, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300 • Strike rotation, boundary percentage, dot ball control •...
info_outlineQueensland Bulls quick Callum Vidler joins The Cerebral Cricketer to unpack his need for speed, what it feels like to bowl 140kph plus, and why he is always hunting poles rather than bowling safe.
From U19 World Cup glory with Australia to a breakout Sheffield Shield final for Queensland, Callum opens up about the mindset behind fast bowling, learning to compete hard without losing control, and how he uses pace as his point of difference.
In this episode we cover
- Growing up in Brisbane and discovering he could bowl genuinely fast
- School and club cricket, and the moment he realised cricket could be a career
- U19 World Cup memories, handling knockout pressure and “mind games” with batters
- Breaking into Shield cricket for Queensland and that 4 for in the Shield final
- What “hunting poles” actually means for him as a fast bowler
- Managing adrenaline, routines between balls and staying present at the top of his mark
- Dealing with an early injury setback and using rehab to come back better, not bitter
- Fast bowling role models, from Queensland greats to international quicks he studies
If you enjoy deep dives into the mental side of cricket, mindset and performance, hit subscribe and share this episode with a fellow cricket tragic.
Timestamps
0:00 Intro and Callum's cricket story so far
18:00 Handling drop catches, anger and extra pace
19:46 Not being greedy and the best ball plan
20:28 Simple game plan, top of off and bouncers
25:38 Fast bowling journey, never being told to slow down
27:40 Early technical tweaks and no back injuries yet
28:46 Grade cricket light bulb moment, finding extra pace
32:15 Intensity, gears and learning from Dale Steyn
33:52 Injuries, hunger and loving bowling again
34:28 Under 19 nationals and Ryan Harris as coach
35:21 Playing nationals at 17 and teammates like Hugh Weibgen
49:15 Game day fuelling and diet lessons from England
50:26 Warm up, sleep and first ball mindset
51:31 Switching on mentally without heavy meditation
52:05 Planning for batters without overloading on analysis
1:00:44 Shield final bowling plans and Andy Bichel's message
1:01:33 Beamer then beauty to remove Nathan McSweeney
1:02:26 Body language, run up tempo and staying calm in the final
1:03:02 Mindset defending 95 and staying in the moment
1:04:32 Tackling flat wickets and using pace as a point of difference
1:07:20 Under 19 World Cup selection and move to South Africa
1:08:26 Cross seam bounce, South African pitches and Aussie quicks
1:09:24 Four for vs England, cross seam and DLS twist
1:14:20 Batting with Raf McMillan to finish a chase
1:15:00 Preparing for the World Cup final vs India
1:16:25 Resetting after bad balls in a high pressure final
1:24:42 Learning from Marnus and game awareness in Shield cricket
1:25:06 Playing Shield cricket against Sam Konstas after the World Cup
1:26:33 Partial back stress fracture and missing an Australia tour
1:27:04 Injury emotions, staying around the group and Harvey Bay trip
1:28:14 Studying finance, life outside cricket and rehab runs
1:29:16 Hunger to return and not taking cricket for granted
1:35:14 Bowling when sore, being present and finding a way on tough days